LPD issues warrants in Thursday's carjacking

Officers with the Lexington Police Department were searching for a Lexington man Friday who they say was involved in a carjacking Thursday morning on South Main Street.

BY DARRICK IGNASIAK The Dispatch

Officers with the Lexington Police Department were searching for a Lexington man Friday who they say was involved in a carjacking Thursday morning on South Main Street.Warrants have been issued for 26-year-old Jimmy Ray Blackwell Jr. of Reich Street for first-degree kidnapping, common law robbery, two counts of felony larceny of a motor vehicle and assault on a female, the LPD stated in a news release issued Friday evening.LPD officers were dispatched to a robbery call that involved the larceny of a motor vehicle and kidnapping at 7:22 a.m. The female victim reported she was in the parking lot of Biscuit King at 2208 S. Main St. when she was approached by a man. The suspect, according to police, forced her into her car and made her drive him to another location. While in the area of West Center Street at Westside Drive, the victim attempted to escape the vehicle and the suspect pushed her out of the car. The suspect, police said, then drove the car from the scene. Patrol officers located the stolen vehicle in the 300 block of West Third Avenue where it had been left unattended. The victim received non-life threatening injuries. Upon recovery of the vehicle it was determined that the suspect stole an undisclosed amount of cash from inside the victim's vehicle, according to the news release.Lt. Robby Rummage said his agency obtained warrants on Blackwell after it recovered evidence and received information. Witnesses assisted in the LPD developing information, he said. The LPD also worked with the Davidson County District Attorney's Office in bringing the charges.Blackwell, Rummage said, was not known to the victim. He said there were no weapons involved in the incident.Rummage said the LPD during its investigation also determined Blackwell was responsible for another larceny of a motor vehicle during another recent incident at the Shell gas station on South Main Street. He said that vehicle also has been recovered, and the incident at the Shell was not a carjacking.Anyone with information on Blackwell's whereabouts is asked to call Lexington Area Crimestoppers at 243-2400 or the LPD at 243-3302. Rummage urged residents should contact 911 in cases of emergency. Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.